Ānāpānasati can take two directions. If the meditator strives to be mindful of the form or manner of the in-breath and the out-breath, then it is samatha meditation and leads to one pointed of mind. On the other hand, if the meditator notes the sensation of the in-breath and out-breath as it moves and touches, then it is vipassanā meditation. The element of wind or motion (vayo-dhātu) is rūpa or matter, while the awareness or consciousness of the sensation is nāma or mind.

Collective wrote:Does anyone have a summary of the differences between Vipassana and Anapanasati?

Thank you

I guess my recommendations are starting to be rather one-sided (from "dry vipassana" perspective), but I just listened to a talk from Ajahn Brahmali on this subject, and I found it quite good. If you are interested in an easily understandable, but comprehensive and insightful talk regarding the role and relation of these aspects of meditation, you might want to check it out; it's just 50 minutes long:

Ven. Dhammajiva wrote:"A yogi can practice both insight meditation and concentration meditation (vipassanã and samatha bhavanã) well within ãnãpãnasati bhavanã (mindfulness of the in-breath and the out-breath)..."

I thought nothing of this as most of what I read and/or heard said eyes open.

Lately though I've been reading 'eyes closed'. Which is it?

I find that open eyes can be distractive. The image starts to blur, I don't know where to focus my eyes... With my eyes closed I don't have these problems.

He turns his mind away from those phenomena, and having done so, inclines his mind to the property of deathlessness: 'This is peace, this is exquisite — the resolution of all fabrications; the relinquishment of all acquisitions; the ending of craving; dispassion; cessation; Unbinding.' (Jhana Sutta - Thanissaro Bhikkhu translation)

Collective, there comes a point where we can start confusing ourselves. We can ask for advice about the broad-brush approaches to different practices. But eventually it comes down to trial and error and what works for us. And that might differ from person to person. It is understandible that we should want all our ducks lined up before we start, but doesnt actually work that way.

After I'd settled, I got mental images, probably just the mind playing tricks. Iwasn't tired, like dozing off, but I was relaxed. I couldn't make out anything definite, just a lot of fuzzy images. I also felt nauseous at one point, and I also got the subtle feeling of spinning? I think at one point I also expereinced a slight pressure in my chest which disconcerted me for a brief while - but I son got back to the breath.

It was all in all though, an enjoyable expereince, different from open eyes meditation. Different in the ways described above.

That all sounds pretty typical, Collective. When your eyes are closed, many bodily sensations can seem much more intense than usual, sometimes quite odd. The longer and more you sit, the more unfamiliar and disconcerting feelings tend to evaporate as the mind stills. And still other feelings more intense but pleasant can arise.

Kenshou wrote:That all sounds pretty typical, Collective. When your eyes are closed, many bodily sensations can seem much more intense than usual, sometimes quite odd. The longer and more you sit, the more unfamiliar and disconcerting feelings tend to evaporate as the mind stills. And still other feelings more intense but pleasant can arise.